HC Deb 05 July 1965 vol 715 cc1108-9
27. Mr. Goodhart

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what proposals he has for improving the machinery for co-ordination between the department of Defence and representatives of his Department working overseas.

Mr. C. Pannell

None, Sir. My Ministry co-operates closely with the Ministry of Defence and no new machinery is required.

Mr. Goodhart

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the prolonged nature of the defence review is causing some difficulty in making sensible planning arrangements for essential work overseas? Is he sure that these problems are being adequately represented to his colleagues in the Ministry of Defence?

Mr. Pannell

I am not too sure that the earlier part of that supplementary question is for me to answer. There is a good deal of information on this. Apart from formal arrangements, there is close day-to-day contact at all levels between the staff of the Ministry and Service officers on matters of common concern.